Oral history interview with Jack K. Leavitt conducted by Alick Dziabczenko on February 28, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Leavitt describes his life as a child living in early Las Vegas, Nevada during the Great Depression. Leavitt also describes seeing President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech at Hoover (Boulder) Dam, the plane crash that resulted in Carole Lombard's death, and the construction of Nellis Air Force Base. The reaction of Las Vegas, Nevada to the outbreak of World War II is discussed, but information is limited, as Leavitt explains he was deployed in North Africa and Italy during the majority of that period. Finally, Leavitt talks about his career as a real estate broker in Las Vegas, and how real estate has evolved in the city.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Theda Grinnell conducted by Fletcher Corey on February 28, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Grinnell first talks about her move to Nevada and both her and her husband’s employment at the Nevada Test Site. She also talks about the atomic testing blasts, the United States' competition with Russia on nuclear technology, and her employment history. Grinnell later discusses her church membership and goes into detail about the race riots and how they involved and impacted her family. She ends the interview with a discussion of flash floods, the Culinary Workers Union, how World War II affected industry in Las Vegas industry, and the social changes in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Pearl Busch (born 1936 in Winona, Minnesota) conducted by Laura Busch on March 20, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pearl first describes her original move to Southern Nevada and a wide range of topics including the first hotels on the Strip, the growth and expansion of the city, recreational activities such as skiing, and her family. She also discusses gambling and its impact on the city, the clubs and organizations to which she belonged, and her appreciation for the mild Las Vegas climate. The interview finalizes with her thoughts on the biggest excitement Las Vegas offers, her input on the high crime rate in Las Vegas, and her thoughts on the energy crisis and the future of solar energy in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Herb Tobman conducted by Deborah Fischer on March 13, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Herb Tobman talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada while working for Standard Oil as a tire, battery and accessory salesman, then working for the Moulin Rouge as the general manager in 1955. He gives a description of the hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard and downtown. Tobman then discusses the types of gambling that were popular. He also talks about the accommodations, transportation, entertainment, and the economy.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Eleanor Walker conducted by Claytee D. White on June 03, 2004 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview Eleanor Walker discusses serving as President of the Las Vegas, Nevada Chapter of the NAACP in the early 1970s and holding several jobs throughout her lifetime, being among the first black individuals to hold a position in many of the companies for which she worked. She also talks about how she was a pioneer as a black woman in the Las Vegas community.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Monroe Williams conducted by Claytee D. White on August 15, 2000 and August 22, 2000 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview Monroe Williams discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1943, living in the historical Westside neighborhood, and being one of the first black fire fighters in Las Vegas. He also talks about being involved with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples (NAACP), being in the Navy for two years, and his real estate and property management companies.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Donn Blake conducted by George Kostic on April 17, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Blake discusses his role as a Special Projects Coordinator for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada and the various roles he held in historical preservation. Blake also discusses how Las Vegas has grown and evolved over the years. He describes the changes in airport locations over time and mentions the need for historical preservation.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Skip Allen conducted by Henry Perzchala on February 27, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Allen discusses working in human resources for the military, as well as working for his father in the Las Vegas Strip area. Allen also describes recreational activities, his views on morality as a Las Vegan, and some of his experiences in hospitality industry.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Patricia Deverell conducted by Patrick Kiser on April 26, 1986 for the UNLV University Libraries Oral History Collection. Deverell discusses the various population and climate changes that she has witnessed in Nevada, as well as major events such as the above-ground atomic testing. Deverell also mentions her occupation in the gaming industry and describes some of the changes in the industry over time.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with William Boyd conducted by Claytee D. White on August 21, 2013 and September 25, 2013 for the UNLV Boyd Law School project, UNLV Gaming Law Journal. In these interviews, Boyd discusses his family's move to Las Vegas, Nevada when he was a child, his education and fifteen-year career as a lawyer, his introduction to the gaming industry in Las Vegas, and the evolution of the Boyd Gaming Group.
Archival Collection
